DIY View-Master Image Digitizer: Archive-Master

The View-Master has been reborn as a virtual reality system, but you don’t have to throw out your original reels. Julius Howlett came up with a way to make digital copies of the tiny photos using a 3D printed adapter, a 20mm lens and a smartphone.

Think of the adapter as a View-Master headset for your phone’s camera. You slide a reel in, the lens magnifies a photo and you take a picture of it.

Here are some of the View-Master photos that Julius saved. There’s a lot more on his website.

Head to Julius’ Thingiverse page to download the adapter’s 3D files. The good thing about it is that you can also use it to shoot 35mm negatives.